Women’s Leadership Makes a Difference
I was a single mom with a 7-year-old son living in a small town in Iowa when the 2001 recession hit. Suddenly I found myself jobless, along with many others. As I looked for a new opportunity, I discovered that many of the local businesses were laying people off. My plan B was to launch a coaching business. I had an idea to help those local small businesses that were struggling. What if we could bring business leaders together to brainstorm ways they could collaborate on innovative ideas for growth that could help them all overcome the challenges?
After presenting the idea to Ed, the mayor, we launched into action. The issue I had to face was that this idea wasn’t going to help me pay the bills. Before we could get very far, I decided to move back to New York where there would be more opportunities to find work. I was able to get back on my feet financially and later moved to Northwest Arkansas.
In 2014, I went back to visit that small Iowa town and ran into Ed in a coffee shop. He was excited to see me and informed me that they had run with my idea thirteen years earlier. And, it had made a tremendous difference for those small businesses. Up until that day, I had forgotten all about the idea and was grateful to know that it yielded positive results.
We may not always see the results of our ideas, influence, or work. We may even question whether we belong in a place of leadership and influence, and whether our voice can really make a difference. I certainly didn’t have any grand notion about being able to affect the kind of change needed to overcome such economic challenges. But we can always be assured that God sees our obedient action, and He works through the seeds we plant and through other people (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
If you wonder what kind of a difference women’s leadership has made, let’s just look through the lens of Labor Day since we celebrated it recently. *Labor Day was first celebrated in 1892 to recognize the work of those who were under appreciated. The Labor Hall of Honor was created to honor Americans who made distinctive contributions that enhance quality of life for all workers. Women in the Hall of Honor include:
Frances Perkins, who helped establish the U.S. Employment Service, was the first leader of the Department of Labor, and directed the formulation and enactment of the Social Security Act.
Mary Anderson, a champion for women in the workplace and the most influential of all women in federal service in her day.
Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, a fearless and unstoppable champion for mine workers and children.
Helen Adams Keller, who aided the foundation of the American Civil Liberties Union and advocated for workers. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rev. Addie Wyatt, the first African American woman to hold a senior office on an American labor union. She co-founded the Coalition of Labor Union Women, and worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
These women exhibited great courage and selflessness to make a difference for others, sometimes facing harsh consequences. We enjoy many workplace benefits today as a result of the efforts and sacrifices of women. Those benefits include the 5-day, 40-hour work week, paid sick days and time off, and other labor laws designed to create more equitable and fair workplaces.
Women have been powerful change agents throughout history. God created women with specific strengths, gifts, talents, and perspectives to work alongside men so that the work we do together exceeds anything we could do separately. Although our work and working relationships were certainly impacted by the Fall, Jesus came to redeem not only our souls, but our relationships, our work, and women’s leadership.
Women’s leadership makes a difference … and whether we are acknowledged for our contributions or not, God is pleased when we steward our gifts for the good of others. Your reward will be great in Heaven (Matthew 5:11-12).
Let’s remember and celebrate that we achieve the greatest success when women are included in leadership and places of influence.
Catherine Gates is the author of The Confidence Cornerstone: A Woman’s Guide to Fearless Leadership. Catherine has also contributed to several faith-and-work Bible studies, numerous YouVersion reading plans, and books from other authors including the iWork4Him and sheWorks4Him publications. She is a powerful speaker and frequent podcast contributor.
Catherine has been helping people integrate their faith and work since 2013. Prior to joining the Polished team, Catherine served as Executive Director for Women in the Marketplace, co-host for the sheWorks4Him podcast, and Senior Director of Content and Partnerships for Workmatters.
Catherine has diverse experience in technology and systems development, training, non-profit management, sales coaching and training, writing and instructional design. She has worked for large corporations to small entrepreneurial endeavors, including owning a small software consulting firm.
Catherine is on the steering committee for the National Faith & Work Association (NFWA.org); the board of Ladies of Grace, a women’s prison ministry; and on the Advisory board of Keirus by KJE, a strategy consulting, leadership development and technology firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is passionate about helping people achieve more of their God-given potential by bringing faith into every area of life.